System and method for activating uniform network resource locators displayed in media broadcast

ABSTRACT

A system and method are provided for displaying a uniform network resource locator embedded in a time-based medium. In one embodiment, the time-based medium can be a movie file having an uniform network resource locator embedded by association with a track in the movie file. In another embodiment, the time-based medium can be a video signal having encoded information defining an embedded uniform network resource locator. An output for display is generated based upon the time-based medium where display of the output shows the embedded uniform network resource locator to a user such that the embedded uniform network resource locator is active during display of the output. The user is then allowed to activate the embedded uniform network resource locator. In response to activation by the user, the embedded uniform network resource locator is followed to retrieve a resource addressed by the embedded uniform network resource locator.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates in general to the field of electronicsystems, and more particularly to a system and method for displayinguniform network resource locators embedded in a time-based medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Uniform resource locators (URLs) are currently used to provideaddressing of and access to resources on the public Internet and privateintranets. These Internet/intranet URLs allow client systems of thenetwork to request the documents or other resources from servers of thenetwork by reference to the URL. The available resources generallyinclude HTML Web pages as well as audio files and movie files that canbe downloaded to a user's machine. The URLs for resources typically aredisplayed within Web pages either as hypertext links or as graphics hotspots and allow users to navigate the various resources available on thenetwork. URLs can also be entered manually by a user in order to connectto a specific resource. When accessed, Web pages typically are loaded bya web browser, interpreted and then displayed to the user. Audio filesand movie files, on the other hand, are usually downloaded as discretefiles to the user's system and then played in a separate window usingsome form of playback application. In general, such audio and moviefiles provide a time-based medium understood and interpreted by theplayback application to generate audio sounds and video displays.

[0003] Conventional movie playback applications include QUICK TIME,available from APPLE COMPUTERS, and VIDEO FOR WINDOWS, available fromMICROSOFT. QUICK TIME VR, also available from APPLE COMPUTERS, is aplayback application that plays files expressed in a spatial-basedmedium to allow viewing of a scene from multiple viewpoints. One use ofVIDEO FOR WINDOWS is described in an article “AVI Files with Hot Spots”,Technical Articles: Multimedia-Microsoft Development Library. Thisarticle describes specifying hot-spots for audio-video interleaved (AVI)files where the hot spots can be drawn on AVI files and saved inhot-spot information files which can be specified as a parameter whenthe AVI is played. The described AVI hot-spot functionality allowsspecifying beginning and ending frames for each hot spot, as long as twohot spots do not have the same beginning or ending frames. The describedAVI hot-spot functionality also allows executing viewer commands andcalling stand-alone applications when a hot spot is selected as well asto continue, stop or jump within the AVI file being played.

[0004] There are additional movie-type displays that can be createdthrough the use of executable languages such as the use of JAVA appletsto animate graphics. In addition, POINTCAST can be used to broadcaststatic screens over the public Internet or private intranets that areupdated to provide a slide show presentation. Other conventionalpresentation software applications allow a user to build video into apresentation including DIRECTOR, available from MACROMEDIA, which allowsa user to program a presentation which can include video. Relatively newtechnologies are also available that integrate common television withInternet web activity to allow a user to access the public Internet orprivate intranets using a web browser and to display the web browser'soutput on a television.

[0005] A problem with conventional audio files, movie files and othertime-based media and their associated playback applications is that adiscontinuity in the user's ability to navigate network resources iscreated during playback. This discontinuity is created by the user's notbeing allowed to activate URLs for other resources from within theplayback window during playback. For example, playback of a conventionalmovie file could cause a URL to be displayed as text within the video,but the URL would not be an active hypertext link. If the user wanted tofollow the displayed URL, the user would need to invoke a Web browserand manually enter the URL.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, a system and method fordisplaying uniform network resource locators embedded in a time-basedmedium are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantagesand problems associated with previously developed time-based media andplayback applications.

[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a methodis provided for displaying a uniform network resource locator embeddedin a time-based medium. In one embodiment, the time-based medium can bea movie file having a uniform network resource locator embedded byassociation with a track in the movie file. In another embodiment, thetime-based medium can be a video signal having an encoded uniformnetwork resource locator. An output for display is generated based uponthe time-based medium where display of the output shows the embeddeduniform network resource locator to a user and where the embeddeduniform network resource locator is active during display of the output.The user is then allowed to activate the embedded uniform networkresource locator. In response to activation by the user, the embeddeduniform network resource locator is followed to retrieve a resourceaddressed by the embedded uniform network resource locator.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, asystem is provided for displaying a uniform network resource locatorembedded in a time-based medium. The system includes a data storagedevice storing a time-based medium having an embedded uniform networkresource locator. A playback application is operable to access the datastorage device. The playback application is further operable to read thetime-based medium, interpret the time-based medium and generate anoutput for display. The output includes the embedded uniform networkresource locator where the embedded uniform network resource locator isactive. A display is operable to receive the output of the playbackapplication and to display the output to a user of the system. A userinput device is operable to provide information to the playbackapplication such that the user can select and activate the embeddeduniform network resource locator. If the embedded uniform networkresource locator is activated, the playback application is operable tofollow the embedded uniform network resource locator to retrieve aresource addressed by the embedded uniform network resource locator.

[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, asystem is provided for distributing a video signal having an encodeduniform network resource locator. The system includes an encoding systemoperable to generate a video signal including video and encodedinformation. The encoded information defines a uniform network resourcelocator embedded in the video. A decoding system is operable to receivethe video signal. The decoding system is then further operable to decodethe encoded information from the video signal, to display the video withthe uniform network resource locator embedded in the video to a user,and to allow the user to select and activate the embedded uniformnetwork resource locator. If the embedded uniform network resourcelocator is activated, the decoding system is operable to follow theembedded uniform network resource locator to retrieve a resourceaddressed by the embedded uniform network resource locator.

[0010] A technical advantage of the present invention is embeddinguniform network resource locators in a time-based medium such thatuniform network resource locators are active during playback of thetime-based medium. This allows a user to activate links and connect toresources, for example, across the public Internet or private intranetsduring playback of the time-based medium. The uniform network resourcelocators can be displayed, for example, as hypertext links and as hotspots. In addition, the uniform network resource locators can bedisplayed and made active while the playback application performs VCRfunctions such as rewind, fast-forward, and frame advance.

[0011] Another technical advantage of the present invention is theability to encode uniform network resource locators into a video signalsuch that the video signal can be transmitted across a distributionnetwork or recorded. The video signal can then be received, the uniformnetwork resource locators decoded from the video signal, and the videodisplayed with active uniform network resource locators.

[0012] A further technical advantage of the present invention is theability to associate uniform network resource locators with varioustypes of time-based media tracks, including image and audio tracks. Inaddition, transformations for hot spots can be specified for movement ofhot spots within the playback display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A more complete understanding of the present invention andadvantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system fordisplaying uniform network resource locators embedded in a time-basedmedium according to the teachings of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of Internet/intranet URLsembedded in a movie file according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of displaying an embeddedURL during playback of the movie file of FIG. 2 according to theteachings of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a diagram of one embodiment of highlighting a hot spotassociated with an embedded URL during playback of the movie file ofFIG. 2 according to the teachings of the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system fordistributing a video signal having encoded uniform network resourcelocators to a number of end points for decoding and display according tothe teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system fordisplaying uniform network resource locators embedded in a time-basedmedium according to the teachings of the present invention. As usedherein, the term “uniform network resource locator” denotes anidentifier of a network document or other resource, formatted inaccordance with a uniform network protocol, such that computer clientsof the network, for example, can request the document or resource fromcomputer servers of the network by reference to the identifier.Internet/intranet URLs, formatted in accordance with HTTP protocol, areone example of a uniform network resource locator as that term is usedherein. Although the embodiment of FIG. 1 and those of FIGS. 2-5 involveInternet/intranet URLs, the present invention is not intended nor shouldbe construed to be limited to Internet/intranet URLs. In addition, theembodiments of FIGS. 1-5 involve movie files, but the present inventionis not intended nor should be construed to be limited to movie files asthe time-based medium.

[0020] The system of FIG. 1, indicated generally at 4, is implemented todisplay Internet/intranet URLs embedded in a movie file. System 4includes a data storage device 6 which stores one or more movie files 8that each have embedded URLs. One embodiment for embedding URLs within amovie file 8 is shown in and discussed with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3below. System 4 also includes movie playback application 10 coupled todata storage device 6 and operable to read movie file 8, interpret moviefile 8 including the embedded URLs, and provide video to be displayed toa user on a display 12 and audio to be played on a speaker 13. System 10further includes user input device 14 coupled to movie playbackapplication 16 which can comprise a keyboard and a mouse or otherpointing device. A user can use user input device 14 to provideinformation to movie playback application 10 for selecting andactivating embedded URLs.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, system 10 isimplemented on a personal computer or a computer workstation. In thisembodiment, the personal computer or computer workstation includes aprocessor and memory in addition to data storage device 6, display 12,speaker 13 and user input device 14. Movie playback application 10 canbe stored in data storage device 6, loaded into the memory and executedby the processor. When executed, movie playback application 10 instructsthe processor to cause the personal computer or computer workstation toread and interpret movie file 8 and provide audio and video to display12 and speaker 13.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of Internet/intranet URLsembedded in a movie file 8 according to the teachings of the presentinvention. In general, movie files include a number of tracks whichprovide audio, image and other elements of a movie expressed in atime-based format. Each track defines a temporal relationship of itsparts with respect to a time sequence of the entire movie file. Thus,there is also a temporal relationship between the various movie filetracks. In general, each track provides information about relative rateof playback, format of the data and corresponding samples with aparticular period of time in which to display or play the sample. Themovie playback application interprets the movie file tracks in order togenerate the movie display and sound. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, movie file 8 is a QUICK TIME movie file, but other movie fileformats can be used as well.

[0023] Movie file 8 has a plurality of tracks which include an audiotrack 16, an image track 18, and an associated URL track 20. Audio track16 includes a plurality of audio samples 22 having a temporalrelationship defined according to the format of movie file 8. Imagetrack 18 includes a plurality of images 24 also having a temporalrelationship defined according to the format of movie file 8. Accordingto the present invention, URLs are embedded into movie file 8 by a URLtrack 20 that is associated with another track in movie file 8. In theembodiment of FIG. 2, URL track 20 is associated with image track 18 andincludes a plurality of URLs 26 that are associated with a sequence ofimages 24. It should be understood that URLs 26 could also be associatedwith audio samples 22 in audio track 16 or with other parts of othertracks within movie file 8. It should also be understood that aplurality of URL tracks could be defined within movie file 8.

[0024] When movie file 8 is played, movie playback application 10interprets audio track 16, image track 18 and associated URL track 20 inorder to build the video and audio supplied to display 12 and speaker13. Audio track 16 provides information about particular audio samplesto be played at particular points in time. Image track 18 similarlyprovides information about images 24 that are to be displayed atparticular points in time. According to the present invention,associated URL track 20 provides information about URLs to display andmake active during certain periods of time with respect to images 24 inimage track 18. URL track 20 can include information about where toplace the URLs in addition to information about temporal sequence of theURLs. URL track 20 allows active URLs, such as hypertext links and hotspots, to be created within the movie display during playback of moviefile 8. When an embedded URL is displayed, a user can select andactivate the URL using user input device 14, and movie playbackapplication 10 can follow the URL.

[0025] In this manner, one or more URLs can be embedded in a time-basedmedium such as a QUICK TIME movie file or other type of movie file. Whenembedded in movie file 8, one or more URLs 26 are temporally sequencedand spatially arranged as defined by one or more URL track 20. Each URLtrack 20 is associated with another track in movie file 8. Each URL 26in each URL track 20 is then active for a given segment of the timeduring playback of movie file 8 according to the association with othertracks. As movie playback application 10 plays a movie file 8, it readsand interprets URL descriptions from URL tracks 20. Playback application10 uses timing and placement information defined for each URL 26 todisplay the URL to a user at the appropriate time. If the associatedtrack contains visual information, such as video, graphics or projectivescenes, playback application 10 can use hot spot or hypertextinformation defined for the URL to display the URL directly over thevisual display of the associated track. The URL can also be displayed tothe user in a separate window. If the associated track does not containvisual information, such as an audio or MIDI track, playback application10 can display the URL to the user in a separate window and allow theuser to activate, the URL. When the user activates a URL, movie playbackapplication 10 can follow the URL and retrieve resources located at thatURL. This can be accomplished using functionality built into playbackapplication 8 or by invoking an external Web browser to follow the URL.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of displaying an embeddedURL during playback of movie file 8 of FIG. 2 according to the teachingsof the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, embedded URL 26of URL track 20 is defined in association with images 24 of image track18; As time progresses, images 24 of image track 18 and any associatedURL 26 of URL track 20 are interpreted and displayed. As shown in FIG.3, display 12 can include a display window 28 and a URL window 30.Display window 28 is used by movie playback application 10 to displayvideo 31 defined by image track 18. At the appropriate time, movieplayback application 10 displays a hypertext link 32 defined byassociated URL track 20. Hypertext link 32 is displayed and is activewithin display window 28 only for a specific period of time duringplayback of image track 18. After passing the last image 24 with whichURL 26 is associated, hypertext link 32 is no longer displayed indisplay window 28. Display window 28 can include a caption 34 whichprovides a description of the area within display window 28 over which apointing device, such as a mouse pointer, is positioned. For example, ifthe pointing device is positioned over hypertext link 32, caption 34 canprovide a name for link 32 or provide the actual URL. URL window 30 isused by a movie playback application 10 to display a list 36 of URLswhich have been active at some point during playback of movie file 8. Inthis manner, URL window 30 provides a history for the user to find andactivate various URLs that have been displayed during playback of moviefile 8.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a diagram of one embodiment of highlighting a hot spotassociated with an embedded URL during playback of movie file 8 of FIG.2 according to the present invention. As shown, when a pointer 38 of apointing device, such as a mouse, is positioned over a hot spot 40, hotspot 40 can be highlighted to indicate to the user that pointer 38 ispositioned over hot spot 40. Also, caption 34 can display a URL 42associated with hot spot 40. Thus, active embedded URLs in a videoplayback can be displayed as hot spots in addition to being displayed ashypertext links. In essence, the URL track can define an image map ontop of a video display and provides active URLs to the user.

[0028] Embedding uniform network resource locators in a time-basedmedium according to the present invention provides significantadvantages over conventional technologies. With respect to movie files,the present invention provides advantages, for example, over QUICK TIMEmovies and VIDEO FOR WINDOWS files, with or without, the MICROSOFT AVIhot-spot functionality. Uniform network resource locators are embeddedinto the time-based medium and do not need to be stored as separateitems. The uniform network resource locators are active during playbackand can be associated with any type of medium, including image, audio,etc. Further, transformations for hot spots can be specified so the hotspot can move during playback, including specifying a list of motionsand key frames.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, a QUICK TIME moviefile format is used. QUICK TIME movie files have a container format inwhich data can be nested within data. Each piece of the data isgenerally called an atom and can have other atoms nested within it.Atoms can include information such as size, type of data, version, flagsand the actual data. The general format of QUICK TIME video files isdescribed in “Inside Macintosh: Quick Time”, Chapter 4, Movie ResourceFormats, Apple Computer, 1993, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., ISBN0-201-62201-7. The embedding of URLs in a QUICK TIME movie file can beimplemented in a number of ways. For example, the embedded URLs can beimplemented as a specially defined track atom. The URLs can also beembedded by having a movie atom with nested tracks and user defineddata. The following tables provide an example of the data structuresthat could be used to embed URLs in a movie atom with nested userdefined data,

[0030] TABLE 1 shows a data format for a User Data List that could beused to associate a URL track with another track within the movie file.TABLE 1 User Data List atom size 4 bytes type = ‘urlt’ 4 bytes version 1bytes flags 3 bytes track ID (associated track) 4 bytes number ofentries 4 bytes URL Descriptor Table variable (contains a series of URLDescriptor atoms) . . .

[0031] TABLE 2 shows a data format for the URL Descriptor Table nestedwithin the User Data List of TABLE 1. The URL Descriptor Table could beused to define the various URLs within the URL track. TABLE 2 URLDescriptor atom size 4 bytes type = ‘urld’ 4 bytes version 1 bytes flags3 bytes time 8 bytes duration 8 bytes Data variable (URLstring andHotspot atoms) . . .

[0032] TABLEs 3 and 4 show a data format for URLstring and Hotspot atomsnested within the URL Descriptor Table of TABLE 2. The URLstring andHotspot atoms could be used to define each URL within the URL track.TABLE 3 URLstring atom size 4 bytes type = ‘urls’ 4 bytes Data (e.g.,string variable listing URL)

[0033] TABLE 4 Hotspot atom size 4 bytes type = ‘hspt’ 4 bytes Datavariable (Shape atom, Motionlist atom, Caption atom) . . .

[0034] TABLEs 5, 6 and 7 show data formats for the Shape atoms,Motionlist atoms, and Caption atoms nested within the URLstring andHotspot atoms of TABLEs 3 and 4. These atoms could be used to definecharacteristics of each hypertext link or hot spot. TABLE 5 Shape atomatom size 4 bytes type = ‘hshp’ 4 bytes Shape bounding box 8 bytes Shaperegion data (e.g., variable list of 2D coordinates)

[0035] TABLE 6 Motionlist atom atom size 4 bytes type = ‘hsml’ 4 bytesNumber of key frames in list 4 bytes Data variable (Hotspot Motion KeyFrame table) . . .

[0036] TABLE 7 Caption atom atom size 4 bytes type = ‘hscp’ 4 bytes Data(e.g., text caption, variable typically title of URL)

[0037] TABLE 8 shows a data format for the Hotspot Motion Key Framenested within the Motionlist atom of TABLE 6. The Hotspot Motion KeyFrame could be used to define movement of a graphics hot spot within thedisplay playback. TABLE 8 Hotspot Motion Key Frame atom size  4 bytestype = ‘hdkf’  4 bytes time  8 bytes duration  8 bytes Matrix (e.g., 3 ×3 matrix 36 expressing transform for that period of time—systeminterpolates between key frames to transform hot spot)

[0038]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system, indicatedgenerally at 50, for distributing a video signal having encoded uniformnetwork resource locators to a number of end points for decoding anddisplay. Specifically, the embodiment of FIG. 5 uses movie files withembedded Internet/intranet URLs. System 50 includes an encoding system52, a distribution network 54, and a decoding system 56. In general,encoding system 52 is associated with a source of the video signal suchas a cable network or local television station, distribution network 54is associated with distributing the video signal such as by the cablecompany or local TV station, and decoding system 56 is associated withend points such as personal residences.

[0039] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, encoding system 52 includes a datastorage device 58 storing, for example, one or more movie files 60having embedded URLs. A URL encode unit 62 is coupled to data storagedevice 58 and is operable to read each movie file 60. URL encode unit 62interprets movie file 60 and generate a video signal having encoded URLsbased upon movie file 60. URL encode unit 62 encodes the URLs byconverting the embedded URLs converted into digital informationtransmitted along with the video signal. This encoding can beaccomplished in a manner analogous to including closed captioned datawith a video signal by encoding the URL information within blankinglines at the top of each frame of the video signal. URL encode unit 62provides the encoded video signal to video output terminals 64.Distribution network 54 receives the video signal from video outputterminals 64 and transmits the video signal to a plurality of decodingsystems 56. Distribution network 54 can be, for example, a cablenetwork, direct satellite network, or direct transmission network. Thevideo signal from video output terminals 64 could also be recorded on afixed storage media such as a VCR tape or video disk, and the fixedstorage media could be distributed rather than transmitting the videosignal across a distribution network 54.

[0040] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, decoding system 56 includes a videoreceiver 66 which receives the video signal from distribution network54. Video receiver 66 then provides the video signal to URL decode unit68. URL decode unit 68 is operable to strip out the URL data from theencoded video signal. URL decode unit 68 then generates video to provideto display 70 where the video includes the embedded URLs. URL decodeunit 68 also provides the decoded URL data to a URL processing unit 72.URL processing unit 72 is operable to communicate with a user interface74 which can include a Web browser 76. URL processing unit 72 candetermine based upon input from user interface 74 whether or not a useractivates an active URL shown on display 70. If a URL is activated, URLprocessing unit 72 can invoke Web browser 76 to retrieve the resourcelocated at the activated URL and display the resource to the user. Thedisplay provided by Web browser 76 can include displaying information ondisplay 70. Decoding system 56 provides a smart video receiver which canreceive video signals encoded with URLs, decode the video signal toseparate the URLs from the video, and embed URLs in video displayed to auser. Decode system 56 can then determine when a user activates anembedded URL and follow the URL to the designated resource.

[0041] Although the present invention has been described in detail, itshould be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterationscan be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for displaying a uniform networkresource locator embedded in a time-based medium, comprising: a datastorage device storing a time-based medium having an embedded uniformnetwork resource locator; a playback application operable to access thedata storage device, the playback application further operable to readthe time-based medium, interpret the time-based medium and generate anoutput for display, the output including the embedded uniform networkresource locator where the embedded uniform network resource locator isactive; a display coupled to receive the output of the playbackapplication and to display the output to a user of the system; and auser input device operable to provide information to the playbackapplication, such that the user can select and activate the embeddeduniform network resource locator; and the playback application operableto follow the embedded uniform network resource locator to retrieve aresource addressed by the embedded uniform network resource locator ifthe embedded uniform network resource locator is activated.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the time-based medium is a movie file havingembedded Internet/intranet uniform resource locators.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the movie file comprises: a plurality of tracks eachdefining a sequence of samples for playback by a playback application;and a URL track associated with one of the plurality of tracks, the URLtrack defining a uniform resource locator in association with one ormore samples of the associated track; such that the URL is active duringplayback of the movie file concurrent with the associated samples. 4.The movie file of claim 3, wherein the plurality of tracks includes animage track defining a sequence of images for playback by the playbackapplication to generate video, and the URL track is associated with theimage track.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of tracksincludes an audio track defining a sequence of audio samples forplayback by a playback application to generate sound, and the URL trackis associated with the audio track.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereinthe output displayed to the user includes a uniform network resourcelocator window that shows a history of uniform network resource locatorsactive at some point in the display window.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the embedded uniform network resource locator is a hot spot. 8.The system of claim 1, wherein the embedded uniform network resourcelocator is a hypertext link.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein theplayback application follows the activated embedded uniform networkresource locator by invoking a web browser to retrieve the resourceaddressed by the embedded uniform network resource locator.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the system is implemented using a personalcomputer having: a memory operable to store the playback application;and a processor coupled to the data storage device, the memory, thedisplay and the user input device, the processor operable to execute theplayback application.
 11. A system for distributing a video signalhaving an encoded uniform network resource locator, comprising: anencoding system operable to generate a video signal including video andencoded information, the encoded information defining a uniform networkresource locator embedded in the video; and a decoding system operableto receive the video signal, the decoding system further operable todecode the encoded information from the video signal, to display thevideo with the uniform network resource locator embedded in the video toa user, and to allow the user to select and activate the embeddeduniform network resource locator; and the decoding system operable tofollow the embedded uniform network resource locator to retrieve aresource addressed by the embedded uniform network resource locator ifthe embedded uniform network resource locator is activated.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the encoding device comprises: a datastorage device storing a time-based medium having an embedded networkuniform resource locator; an encode unit operable to access the datastorage device, the encode unit further operable to read and interpretthe time-based medium and operable to encode the embedded uniformnetwork resource locator into the video signal; and video outputterminals operable to receive the video signal and to provide the videosignal for receipt by the decoding system.
 13. The system of claim 11,wherein the decoding unit comprises: a video receiver operable toreceive the video signal; a decode unit operable to receive the videosignal from the video receiver, the decode unit further operable todecode the encoded information from the video signal, to generate andprovide the video with the embedded uniform network resource locator andto generate and provide data defining the embedded uniform networkresource locator; a display operable to receive the video with theembedded uniform network resource locator from the decode unit, thedisplay further operable to display the video with the embedded uniformnetwork resource locator to a user; a processing unit operable toreceive the data from the decode unit, the processing unit furtheroperable to process the data to monitor the embedded uniform networkresource locator; and a user interface operable to communicate with theprocessing unit, such that the user can provide input to the processingunit for activating the embedded uniform network resource locator. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface includes a webbrowser operable to retrieve the resource addressed the activatedembedded uniform network resource locator.
 15. The system of claim 11,further comprising a distribution network coupled to receive the videosignal from the encoding system, and the distribution network operableto transmit the video signal to the decoding system.
 16. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the video signal from the encoding system is recordedon a video cassette recorder tape and the video cassette recorder tapeis provided to the decoding system.
 17. The system of claim 15, furthercomprising a plurality of additional decoding systems, and wherein theencoding system is associated with a television station distributing avideo signal to the decoding systems.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the distribution network is a cable network.
 19. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the distribution network is a direct broadcastsatellite network.
 20. A method for displaying a uniform networkresource locator embedded in a time-based medium, comprising: embeddinga uniform network resource locator in a time-based medium; generating anoutput for display based upon the time-based medium, where display ofthe output shows the embedded uniform network resource locator to a userwhere the embedded uniform network resource locator is active duringdisplay of the output; allowing the user to activate the embeddeduniform network resource locator; and following the embedded uniformnetwork resource locator to retrieve a resource addressed by theembedded uniform network resource locator in response to activation bythe user.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein embedding the uniformnetwork resource locator comprises embedding the uniform networkresource locator in a movie file, where the uniform network resourcelocator is associated with a track in the movie file.
 22. The method ofclaim 20, wherein embedding the uniform network resource locatorcomprises encoding information into a video signal that defines theembedded uniform network resource locator, and wherein generating theoutput for display comprises decoding the encoded information from thevideo signal.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein generating the outputfor display includes generating video output during which the embeddeduniform network resource locator is active for a defined period of time.